The Vine Dare

Day 40 – Love is a covenant.

thevinedare — Thu, 29 Oct 2009 05:00:58 +0000

Webster’s online dictionary defines a covenant as: “a written agreement or promise usually under seal between two or more parties especially forthe performance of some action.” In the biblical context, a covenant is an agreement between a greater party and a lesser party. The greater party spells out the terms of the agreement and the lesser party either accepts or declines but in no way alters the terms as spelled out by the greater party. When people refer to the “covenant of marriage” they often wrongly assume that the covenant is between man and wife. The covenant agreement is actually between God (the greater party) and man and wife as one (the lesser party). God spells out what the terms of the covenant are in 1 Cor 7 and Eph 5:22-33. Man and wife together as the lesser party choose to accept these terms in total when they say “I DO”.

What’s your answer?

Pat Jarvis

Day 39 – Love endures.

thevinedare — Wed, 28 Oct 2009 05:00:17 +0000

Day 38 – Love fulfills dreams.

thevinedare — Tue, 27 Oct 2009 05:00:40 +0000

Day 38 of The Love Dare leads us to fulfill the dreams of the one we love. Wow, that is a beautiful and a great sign of love: helping others become the best they can be, and all they desire to be.

A couple must be tuned into each other to know the dreams each person is dreaming. Many times dreams are not expressed in family meetings or over dinner, but in everyday conversation.

Just recently Nikki, my wife of almost twelve years, had a new dream of becoming a photographer. To know this, I had to listen carefully to what she was saying and then help her chase her dream. She had taken our kids out on a photo shoot at a couple of different locations and really enjoyed herself. Once home she started editing the photos in Photoshop and before long she was saying things like, “I wish I could do this for someone else.” She was making comments like, “I had a blast acting like a real photographer, too bad I don’t have anyone else to take out on a photo shoot.” I had to be tuned into what she was saying and start pressing into her dream. Long story short, she has now been on four photo shoots and has another four or five on her calendar. This is her dream, something she is doing for fun and enjoyment. It makes her feel special and gives her an outlet for her creativity.

I will say this, the level of time and commitment I have put into making her dream come true gives her a renewed understanding of my love and commitment to her.

Jason Sebren

Day 37 – Love agrees in prayer.

thevinedare — Mon, 26 Oct 2009 05:00:20 +0000

Even though The Love Dare book recommends that couples pray together daily, I must admit that for Vicki and me we have found it more realistic to pray together regularly, but not daily, (except for quick prayers in the car, at meals, etc.) Our schedules are often so varied during the week that it is easier to have our devotions individually, and then carve out a more thoughtful time to pray together on a weekly basis. A number of years ago we began the habit of doing this on Sunday evenings. At that time we go over our calendars together, talking about what the week holds in store for each of us. And then we pray. It’s a great way to look ahead to the week.

We have found that when we are diligent in this habit we are more likely to be on “the same page” and communicate and understand each other better. While writing this I realized that Vicki and I developed this habit when we were living in an underdeveloped country and did not have the distractions of television, computers, and other noise that competes for our attention. It makes me realize that the habit of praying with my spouse is one that can fade away if I am not diligent to make it a priority, but when I do make it a priority the rewards are very evident in our relationship.

Frank Decker

Day 36 – Love is God’s Word.

thevinedare — Sun, 25 Oct 2009 05:00:31 +0000

Why should I try to read the Bible? It’s just too complicated and doesn’t relate with me….actually that’s not true at all. The Lord desperately wants a relationship with you. By praying before you read He will speak to you through His Word things that He wants you to know. Once you begin reading and draw near to Him through His Word, you will discover that He not only loves you but He calls you friend.

How do you eat an elephant? One bite at a time. Study the Bible one book at a time. You have to be willing to be in it. You have to be willing to hear what The Lord wants to share with you. Just like in a relationship, sometimes they might seem too complicated to fool with or just plain overwhelming at times. A marriage is a covenant with your spouse before God. To fully understand the gravity of this covenant with your spouse knowledge of God’s feelings about covenant through His Word is essential.

Once you hear the importance and respect the Lord has for covenants you will begin to realize what a treasured possessions you have in both your Bible and in your spouse. By doing a Bible Study with your spouse you will learn the Biblical promises He gives us. They will provide comfort and assurance which leads to peace for the both of you. I have learned that God does what He says He will do, and He has a plan for my life which will glorify Him. He tells me He will never leave me, He will give me words to speak when I need them and He will comfort me in times of sorrow. He also tells me He loves me and forgives me of my sins when I repent and He remembers those sins no more.

Once you discover the overwhelming LOVE for us in God’s Word, walking it out by loving others as ourselves becomes your true witness of Christ to the world.

Loving your spouse unconditionally, forgiving them and not bringing back up previous issues of your marriage, comforting them in times of sorrow and realizing that a covenant with your spouse is a commitment will build a marriage on a solid rock foundation based on Biblical truths.

Nicole Bishop

Day 35 – Love is accountable.

thevinedare — Sat, 24 Oct 2009 05:00:46 +0000

I love the idea of the sequoias. I love how they “interlock lives” and depend on each other to weather storms and maintain life. That’s how I feel about the people at The Vine. I’m so thankful to have a place where my husband and I can create healthy friendships with other couples – people I know I can go to for wise counsel and Godly advice. If you haven’t made that connection yet at The Vine, a Cluster Group is the best place for you to do so. You should check one out this week! To find someone who can speak Truth into your life, pray specifically that God will introduce you to a friend of the same gender who is further along on their spiritual journey.

Rebecca Moon

Day 34 – Love celebrates Godliness.

thevinedare — Fri, 23 Oct 2009 05:00:40 +0000

Godliness is just “being like God”. It’s really that simple.

Okay, so that isn’t really simple. Being Godly isn’t easy, but it is pretty easy to see it when it is present in someone else. Today isn’t about looking at you and beating yourself up to be more Godly. It is about looking at the one you love and celebrating what you see in them that is Godly.

The funny thing is, when you celebrate the Godliness you see in your partner, you are being Godly.

You see, God celebrates the presence of His Spirit and life in us. When you turn your eyes toward your significant other for the purpose of celebrating the presence and traces of God in them, you are being Godly, you are “being like God” and God will notice.

Gregg Hampton

Day 33 – Love completes each other.

thevinedare — Thu, 22 Oct 2009 05:00:20 +0000

It was a good day for my marriage when I finally realized that my wife and
I are very different people because that is God’s plan, not poor spouse
selection. When discussing a decision, I used to wonder why my infallible
logic wasn’t making my case, and how in the world did this get all
emotional? About 3 years ago, she called me the morning after we had
signed on a real estate deal. She called to tell me that she had no peace
regarding this decision during her quiet time. Her discernment had been
accurate in the past so I called and canceled. Had I dismissed her
“feeling” as emotion rather than recognizing that her gift of discernment
is one I don’t necessarily share, it would have cost US dearly. That same
property can be bought for less than half of what we agreed to that day.
(thank you God and Tammie!) Our radical differences are by Divine design
not random chance. While I am in no way invoking Jerry Maguire (gag!)
I’ve no doubt that as a couple, our combined strengths far outweigh the
sum of the components. While we share common beliefs and values, in her
strengths lie my weaknesses and vice versa.

Pat Jarvis

Day 32 – Love meets sexual needs.

thevinedare — Wed, 21 Oct 2009 05:00:11 +0000

Day 31 – Love and marriage.

thevinedare — Tue, 20 Oct 2009 05:00:57 +0000